Following are the Board updates from the April 26th meeting.
Building Committee – The long awaited front entrance renovation will hopefully be starting after Shavuot.
Chesed Committee - We raised over $7,000 for matanot l'evyonim which was distributed both within and outside the community. For Maos Chitim we raised over $8,500 and we also distributed nonperishable KFP groceries through our partnership with JFCS to about a dozen families in the community. Following Pesach the committee will meet to discuss long term goals and general fundraising.
Education – We have four new learning opportunities: (1) Art of Prayer: Development, Meaning, and Chanting with Chazzan Moshe Moskowitz, Sunday at 10am beginning May 1st. (2) Insights into Megilat Ruth with Rabbi Ian Shaffer, four part series starting Thursday, April 28 at 8:30 on Zoom (this will be the final series Rabbi Shaffer will be giving while he is living in Cherry Hill, as the Shaffers will be making Aliyah at the end of May). (3) Halachic Insights with Rabbi Hirsch Hollander, Shabbat mornings following 8am Minyan. (4) Semichas Chaver Chaburah with Rabbi Davies, starting mid-May Wednesday evenings following Mincha/Maariv, in person men's class with registration required. Looking forward to planning for Shavuot.
Finance Committee -- End of fiscal year bills went out this week
Fundraising -- Our biggest task is assisting with the gala and we have been soliciting ads from individuals, businesses and vendors. How can you help? 1) Purchase your tickets and ads to the gala! 2) If you have a business you can ask to place an ad, please do so. We have boilerplate language you can use. 3) Tell your friends you will be there and encourage them to come and have a good time with you!
GALA - May 23rd is approaching quickly. We have a band, we have honorees, we have a caterer, we have a venue. What we need now is YOU. Early bird sign-up ends May 1. Here are some easy ways to support SOI and our major fundraiser:
1. Register for the dinner at https://www.soicherryhill.org/form/gala2022
2. Submit an ad or solicit ads from whomever you do business with – dry cleaner, jeweler, food store, hairdresser, dentist, doctor, etc.
3. Provide raffle items (ex. Include providing a skill to donate or an item to give away.)
4. Event volunteers are needed (phone calls, set up and clean up, and more!)
Our committee chairs are Vicki Miltz who can be reached at vickayvickay@gmail.com and TL Weinberg who can be reached at seanweinberg1@gmail.com.
Kitchen - Updates to the kitchen include getting new convection ovens to replace the current "pizza" ovens, a new prep area and to improve the plumbing due to a generous donation specific to the kitchen. We also have four items to sell - a drain counter cabinet, ice holder, pizza ovens and coffee pot. All are listed on Facebook Marketplace. There will be two cooking events coming up - Kugel Making and Delicious Desserts.
Marketing, Communication, Advertising, and Technology Committee -- Updates to the newslink, classified ads and lobby board are pending.
Ritual Committee -- With Purim and Pesach behind us, we will start Shavuot learning programming discussions.
Security Committee -- An updated Threat, Vulnerability, Risk Assessment (TVRA) was conducted by Sean Redmond of Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey Security. The NJ Office of Homeland Security grant application will probably be open in mid-May with a one week application window. We are looking for someone to help Jenni Fischman with the application.
Welcoming Committee -- There are a couple new families moving into Cherry Hill in the very near future. Please continue to introduce yourself to newcomers and welcome people in. If you are looking for a list of contact info for those individuals new to our community, let the welcoming committee know.
There is much pride and satisfaction knowing one has improved the quality of Sons of Israel. Reach out, get involved, and be a part of this great team.